Pictured above at the Robotics workshop are Maham Farooq and Martha Jane Brennan

Science Week

Last week as part of Science week the fifth year students and their first year “Caras” attended a Science Quiz in the school’s Assembly Hall. Great fun was had by all and there was great competition for the prizes. A big thank you to the teachers Mrs. Hession, Ms. Farragher, Ms.Kane, Ms. Murray and Ms. Kelly for organising and running this event. Also as part of science week there was a daily science question with a prize for the lucky student who was picked from the draw.Transition Year is the perfect opportunity for students to try a range of different subjects and skills and explore a range of options for their future careers. On Wednesday last transition year students attended a workshop as part of Science week when they learned about engineering as a career and the opportunities available in Ireland to develop their engineering education. Engineering covers a wide range of careers, opening up a range of possibilities and providing an extremely satisfying and challenging career. At the workshop the girls explored engineering, robotics, automation and programming which covered all of the S.T.E.M subjects. The girls thoroughly enjoyed this workshop and would like to thank Mr. Harlow and Mrs. Blake for accompanying them.

Convent of Mercy to stage the Disney classic “Beauty and the Beast”

Best of luck to all involved in the Convent of Mercy forthcoming production of “Beauty and the Beast”. With Mrs. Margaret Madden as Producer/ Director and Ms. Siofra Cox as Musical Director, the production promises to be an extravaganza of music, drama, song and dance, with something for everybody in the family. The 200 strong ensemble cast, choir and live orchestra are enthusiastically looking forward to putting on a great show. Musical numbers such as “Be our guest”, “If I can’t love her”, “Home”, “Something there”, “Human again” and “Beauty and the Beast” promises to entertain all. The musical runs nightly from Monday, November 28th to Saturday, December 5th (no performance on Wed. 30th) with a matinee on Saturday 3rd at 1.30p.m. Booking on 087 4027324.The musical will run nightly at 8.00p.m. from Monday November 28th to Saturday December 3rd (no performance on Wednesday 30th) with a matinée on Saturday December 3rd at 1.30p.m.

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Mairead McGuinness MEP Visits School

It was our great privilege to welcome Mrs. Mairead McGuinness, MEP and Vice President of the European Parliament to our school on Friday last, November 11th. As part of their Transition Year module on “Social Justice”, the Transition Year Students invited Mrs. McGuinness to come and discuss issues of concern with them. During what was a very entertaining and informative talk Mrs. McGuinness discussed topics such as her work in the European Parliament; Brexit and its possible impact on Ireland; the Syrian Refugee Crisis, the changing face of Europe and of course the very topical issue of the American Presidential Campaign. We would like to thank Mrs McGuinness for sharing her experience and insight with us and for reiterating that each and every one of us have a role to play in relation to making our world a better place. The Transition Year Students presented her with a signed petition and letter urging the Irish Government to honour their commitment to take in 4,000 Syrian Refugees. Mrs. McGuinness also addressed our 5th and 6th year students and outlined for them her varied and accomplished career to date. She urged the girls to look on life as an ‘adventure’, to relish and embrace “opportunities” along the way. Her words of wisdom resonated very strongly with all our students. A big thank you to Mrs. Fitzmaurice (TY Social Justice Teacher) for organising this very worthwhile visit of Mrs. McGuinness.

Pictured across is the Convent of Mercy Senior Volleyball team who have made it through to round 2 of the Volleyball Association Championship. Back L-R: Shannon Quigley, Lauren Fahey, Chloe Kelly, Yoni Heudens. Front L-R: Amy Curley, Katie Dolan and Róisín McCaffrey.

Fifth Year Shoebox Appeal

The Christmas Shoebox Appeal was launched in our school last week. The Shoebox Appeal is a project many students have taken part in, at primary and secondary school. It takes place every year during the approach to Christmas all over Ireland. Thousands of gift filled shoeboxes are sent to poverty-stricken children all over the world. Class 5A and 5D are running the shoebox appeal in the school this year. They also organised a presentation for each class, to create awareness of this very worthwhile cause. The girls hope to be busy collecting shoeboxes and donations over the next few weeks, which will then be sent off to the general warehouse before travelling by train, truck and plane to Eastern Europe or Africa. We hope the Shoebox Appeal will be a great success this year in our school and encourage as many as possible to get involved. Boxes can be left into Mrs. O’Brien’s room by November 11th.

Katie qualifies for Poetry Aloud

Congratulations to first year student Katie Heneghan who has qualified for the national semi-finals in the Poetry Aloud 2016 poetry speaking competition. Katie represented Meánscoil Muire gan Smál in the regional finals held in St. Enda's College, Galway this week. She performed the poems "Lament for Thomas McDonagh" by Francis Ledwidge and "Stop all the Clocks" by WH Auden. Katie was chosen from a large group of competitors to go forward to the semi-finals which will be held in the National Library, Kildare St Dublin on the 17/18 November. Katie is no stranger to poetry recitation as she is the current All-Ireland Champion in Scór na nÓg recitation. Well done Katie!

NUIG Business Students Awards

​On Thursday, October 20th, fourteen of our students who received an A in Junior Certificate Honours Business Studies, were presented with Certificates of Achievement from the NUI, Galway J.E. Cairns School of Business and Economics. The presentations were made at a special ceremony in the Bailey Allen Hall at the university which included teachers and parents, the president of the BSTAI and academics from the business School in NUIG. Dr. Kieran Conboy, Dean of the College of Business Public Policy and Law, who presented the certificates to each individual, congratulated all the students on their achievement of being in the top 9% of national results. He also acknowledged the work of teachers and parents in helping students reach their potential. Congratulations to our recipients Ella Mahon, Sarah Scally, Rachel Hamill, Rachel Nally, Maebh Dervin, Ava O’Leary, Rosie O’Mara, Síofra Mahon, Caoimhe Donoghue, Roisin Roddy, Lucy Waldron, Ruth McNeill, Alannah Healy and Emma Cuddy. The girls would like to thank Ms. Connolly and Mr. Keane for accompanying them on the night.

On Monday the 23rd of October 2016 6th year LCVP students from Mrs Kelly class organised a fundraising activity in aid of Cancer for the charity “CanTeen”. The charity CanTeen is a nationwide support group for young people who have or have had cancer, and for their brothers, sisters and friends. It provides 1 to 1 support, Health professionals involvement, Home/hospital visiting, Social events, Information service and a Counselling service.The class planned a pizza afternoon where each 6th year student brought in €5 and they received 2 slices of pizza and a drink. The pizza was provided by Papa Johns and the students raised €230 for the charity. Thank you to all involved.